Murfreesboro’s Municipal Airport Commission has announced a June 24 through July 26 period for public review and comment on its Draft Environmental Assessment regarding a proposal to extend the runway 852 feet northward toward DeJarnette Lane. In compliance with Federal Aviation Administration procedures the City of Murfreesboro’s consultants have prepared a Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) and Draft FONSI (Finding Of No Significant Impact). Copies of the DEA and Draft FONSI are available for public review and comment at Murfreesboro Municipal Airport. 1930 Memorial Blvd. and in Linebaugh Public Library, second floor Reference Table, 105 West Vine St. and in the offices of the City Recorder and Planning and Engineering departments, Murfreesboro City Hall, 111 West Vine St. Written comments will be received by Hanson Professional Services, 53 Century Blvd., Suite 160, Nashville, TN 37214 until 4 p.m. July 26 for transmission to the Federal Aviation Administration. The comments received, will be transcribed without alteration, and will be included as a part of the Environmental Assessment document which will be sent to the Federal Aviation Administration for its review and determination.
A Public Hearing will be held July 16 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. in the City Council Chambers in City Hall. This event will be a Work Session/Public Hearing with the Draft Environmental Assessment and the included drawings on display. Representatives from the consulting firms who assisted the City of Murfreesboro in the preparation of the DEA, Atkins North America and Hanson Professional Services, will attend to answer any questions.
People attending the public hearing will have opportunity to record their comments for inclusion in the DEA and official consideration by the FAA reviewers. Two methods for recording comments are to go into the City Council Chambers and put comments in writing, or, attendees may present their comments orally for transcription by a Court Reporter.
Murfreesboro Municipal Airport Manager Chad Gehrke stated the 852-foot runway extension is part of the Airport Layout Plan Update which was unanimously approved by Murfreesboro City Council last year. The airport’s services to the community continue to be invaluable, Gehrke stated.
Murfreesboro Municipal Airport is home to the MTSU Aerospace Department, one of the top aviation programs in the nation, which continues to attract students from all over the country. A recent MTSU economic impact study concluded the airport has approximately a $70 million impact on the local economy, the manager added. Murfreesboro Municipal Airport is one of the very few General Aviation airports in the state that is self-supporting. No local tax dollars are used in its annual budget for operations or capital improvements. For more than 60 years, the airport has been a great asset to the community and its citizens, Gehrke added, and he looks forward to seeing the results and completion of this Environmental Assessment as the Airport prepares to serve the community into the future.
